CVE-2024-41846
📋 TL;DR
This stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Adobe Experience Manager allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript into vulnerable form fields. When users visit pages containing these compromised fields, their browsers execute the attacker's code. This affects all Adobe Experience Manager versions 6.5.20 and earlier.
💻 Affected Systems
- Adobe Experience Manager
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers could steal administrator session cookies, perform actions as authenticated users, deface websites, or redirect users to malicious sites, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
Likely Case
Attackers steal user session cookies or credentials, perform unauthorized actions within the application, or deploy client-side malware.
If Mitigated
With proper input validation and output encoding, the vulnerability is prevented, though the vulnerable code remains present.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires access to vulnerable form fields, which typically requires some level of authentication or content authoring permissions.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 6.5.21 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/experience-manager/apsb24-28.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download Adobe Experience Manager 6.5.21 or later from Adobe's distribution portal. 2. Apply the service pack following Adobe's upgrade documentation. 3. Restart the AEM instance. 4. Verify the update was successful.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Input Validation Filter
allImplement server-side input validation to sanitize user input in form fields
Implement custom servlet filter or use AEM's XSS API: org.apache.sling.xss.XSSAPI
Content Security Policy
allImplement strict Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution
Add CSP header: Content-Security-Policy: script-src 'self'
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Review and secure all custom form components for proper input validation and output encoding
- Implement web application firewall rules to block XSS payloads in form submissions
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check AEM version via CRXDE Lite or system console. If version is 6.5.20 or earlier, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
curl -u admin:admin http://localhost:4502/system/console/status-productinfoVerify Fix Applied:
Verify AEM version is 6.5.21 or later and test form fields with XSS payloads to ensure they are properly sanitized.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual POST requests to form endpoints with script tags or JavaScript payloads
- Multiple failed login attempts followed by form submissions
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests containing <script> tags or JavaScript in form parameters
- Unusual outbound connections from user browsers after visiting AEM pages
SIEM Query:
source="aem-access.log" AND ("<script>" OR "javascript:" OR "onerror=" OR "onload=")